The Phantom of Pemberley

by Regina Jeffers

  Lydia followed her as they took a place before the hearth.“Why should I not live in luxury while I may,” she replied.

  Elizabeth pulled her feet up under her to sit comfortably.“Jane’s last letter said that you and Mr.Wickham had moved recently. I will need your new directions.”

  “It is not much.” Lydia straightened her dress’s seams, trying not to make eye contact with her sister. “Obviously, nothing like what you or Jane has.” She glanced about her.“Just four rooms.You know—military quarters are not much by Pemberley’s standards.”

  Elizabeth knew that her sister had changed quarters three times since her marriage. Elizabeth and Jane had agreed to aid their younger sister, knowing Lydia’s tendency to spend foolishly. Elizabeth sent such relief as it was in her power to afford by the practice of what might be called economy in her own private expenses. She refused to ask Darcy to provide the Wickhams with any more financial support. It had always been evident to everyone that the couple would know no economy, and that such an income as theirs, under the direction of two persons in their wants and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support. “But you and Mr.Wickham—I mean—you are happy, are you not, Lydia?”

  “It is easy to be happy when you live like this.” Lydia gestured to the room’s finery. “It is a bit harder when…well…it just is, Lizzy.”

  Elizabeth sat forward. “I want you to be happy, Lydia; you must know that.” She, too, gestured to the room’s decorations. “This is not from where my happiness comes. For me, it comes from Fitzwilliam. I would be happy to be one of Pemberley’s cottagers if he was there.”

  “Then you are lucky.” Lydia stood. “I affect Mr. Wickham—I really do, Lizzy. He is so handsome in his blue coat and all.” She walked to the fireplace and stood there with her back to the roaring fire.

  Elizabeth had realized from the beginning that Wickham’s affection for Lydia was not equal to Lydia’s for him.Their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love rather than by his. She often wondered why, without violently caring for Lydia, he had chosen to elope with her at all. Now she understood that his flight had been rendered necessary by distress of circumstances, and Wickham was not the young man to resist an opportunity of having a companion. Lydia had been exceedingly fond of him from the beginning. He had been her dear Wickham on every occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did everything best in the world. It was an idealized love.

  “I know that you have always found the best in Mr.Wickham.” Elizabeth felt very sorry for her sister’s situation—for her own beloved Lydia’s foolishness.

  Lydia turned to stare into the fire. “I wish my husband did me the same honor. He finds me quite silly, and I suppose I am at times.”

  “You are still very young, Lyddie.”

  “Am I?” The girl’s shoulders began to jerk with silent sobs. “I am old enough to know what my husband does on these trips when he sends me off to visit with Jane and now you.” Her tone turned sarcastic. “Can you imagine my dear Wickham not keeping company with some other woman when he is at Bath or London?”

  “You do not know that for certain, Lydia.” Elizabeth said the words to comfort her sister, not because she truly believed them.

  Lydia wiped at her face with her sleeve. “No…I do not know for certain what my husband does on his travels.” She wore bitterness on her face when she turned to her sister. “The colonel’s wife says that it is a man’s way—that a woman must accept her lot. But I will not spend my life with a man who does not love me. I fancy myself still capable of attracting a man of consequence—the same as you and Jane.”

  “Lydia, you cannot be thinking of leaving Mr.Wickham!” Elizabeth’s heart sank as she inwardly acknowledged the possible scandal. A divorce would be ten times more controversial than Lydia’s elopement, and it would not be something that even Darcy could cover up, even if it were possible for Wickham to execute. Divorce was usually granted only to those of a particular social class and those with deep pockets, neither of which described the Wickhams.

  “Why not?” Lydia went to the mirror to style her hair. “He has no qualms about leaving me—whether it be to Bath or London or even simply to his own bed. Well, I will have no more of it, Lizzy—I will not be tossed aside at seventeen.When Mr.Wickham left, I told him that I expected a renewal of his affections when he returned, or I would speak to the colonel about what happens behind our closed doors.”

  Elizabeth did not want to ask, but she did so anyway. “What happens, Lydia?”

  Her sister did not turn to speak directly to Elizabeth, but she spoke to her sister’s reflection in the beveled mirror.“Mr.Wickham drinks, Lizzy, and he is not a man who holds his liquor well.”

  “He hits you!” Elizabeth said, aghast. She had observed George Wickham being rude to Lydia, but it was always when Lydia had made a spectacle of herself, but Elizabeth had never thought it might be more than embarrassment mixed with irritation.

  “Not hit exactly—more like shove or fling or pinch or bend. But I will no longer tolerate my husband’s ire, and I told him so before I left Nottingham. I told Mr. Wickham to get whatever it was out of his system before he returned to Newcastle.”

  “Good for you.” Elizabeth moved to stand behind her sister. “I am proud of you, Lyddie.” She took up the brush to style Lydia’s hair.

  “Are you truly, Lizzy?”

  “Indeed, I am.”

  CHAPTER 4

  “SO,WORTH,WOULD YOU LIKE to explain to me how you ended up in a carriage with the wife of a man you previously prosecuted for gambling debts?”

  Worth leaned back in his chair. “Would you believe it was purely coincidence?”

  “Not in the least.” Darcy sat forward to press his point.“I prefer the truth. Mrs.Wickham is Mrs. Darcy’s youngest sister. If the lady’s husband has brought additional shame on this family, I have a right to know.”

  Worth played with his pocket watch, opening and closing the case.After several moments, he responded,“Mr.Wickham has made some unsavory connections.”

  Darcy paused and then asked, “What should I know?”

  “Nearly a month ago, Mr. Niall O’Malley, a former associate from Cheshire—sent me a letter. He is practicing in Newcastle and had received several complaints by merchants and officers regarding George Wickham. It took him some time before he made the connection to the case we had brought in my home shire against your wife’s brother.” Remembering Darcy’s contempt for Wickham, Worth was careful not to refer to the man as also being Darcy’s brother. “My friend asked me to come to Newcastle to identify the man.When I arrived, I also learned that Mr.Wickham’s commanding officer entertained the idea that the gentleman in question had ill-used Mrs. Wickham on more than one occasion.”

  Darcy made no comment. He comforted Elizabeth when she had returned in tears to their shared chambers with news of Lydia’s accusation against her husband. Nigel Worth’s words only underscored Darcy’s opinion of George Wickham. “That still does not explain how you ended up as Mrs.Wickham’s newest friend.”

  “In reality, it was a coincidence. According to your wife’s sister, Wickham left her in Nottingham to wait for the public coach to Pemberley. I had no idea of Mrs. Wickham’s identity until she shared it during one of our conversations.”

  “And what is your connection to this new case against George Wickham?” Darcy needed all the facts—needed to know how to ensure his family’s well-being.

  “I would testify to the repetition of Mr. Wickham’s offense—to his proclivity for gambling debts—assuming they decided to bring charges.”

  Darcy had to ask. “Do you have any idea of the extent of these debts?”

  “Somewhere in the neighborhood of nine thousand pounds, I believe, sir.”

  A sickening feeling flooded his stomach. Barely eighteen months earlier, Darcy had settled a large sum on Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet, plus he paid the man’s gambling debts in Hertfordshire and
Brighton. He could not afford to bail his enemy out again, no matter what the emotional cost to his family. Enraged, he wondered, How could Wickham go through so much money in such a short time? If it would not affect the Bennets, and, ultimately, the Darcys, by association, he would lead the party to lock Wickham away.

  “You are not thinking of paying Wickham’s accounts again, are you, Mr. Darcy? It would be throwing good money after bad.” Worth spoke the truth, although Darcy did not wish to hear it.

  “I will not take money from my sister’s future to save Mr.Wickham. Plus, I will not rescue the man if what you say is true regarding his actions towards his wife.”

  “I assure you that it is true, Mr. Darcy.”

  Darcy stood to end the conversation. “I thank you, Mr. Worth, for being so candid.You have given me much on which to think.”

  “Let me know, Mr. Darcy, if I may be of service.” Worth made his obligatory bow to leave. “You and your family need to openly dissociate yourself from any dealings with Mr.Wickham.”

  “Unfortunately, you may be correct, Mr. Worth.” Darcy led the way to the door.“However, how do I convince my wife to set aside her feelings for her sister and to allow the lady to flounder in the situation she has created?”

  Despite Lady Catherine’s objections, Darcy insisted that Elizabeth sit opposite him at his evening table. He placed Lady Catherine on his right and Viscount Stafford on Elizabeth’s right. He kept Cathleen Donnel away from Georgiana, placing her between Lydia and Nigel Worth.

  “It does appear that the storm is not going away anytime soon,” Worth observed. “We may be in your debt, Mr. Darcy, longer than we originally had intended.”

  “I am sure that my nephew knows his duty,” Lady Catherine declared to the whole table. “As is our family’s nature, we take our responsibilities to the neighborhood seriously. My brother, the Earl of Matlock, is the most magnanimous of men.”

  “I was unaware, Mr. Darcy, of your relationship to the earl,” Mrs. Williams raised her head to join the conversation. She seemed a bit disturbed by the news of Darcy’s connection, but she said,“My late husband and I had the honor of making the acquaintance of the Earl of Matlock at a celebration dinner hosted by the Naval Board at Whitehall.”

  Lady Catherine puffed up with pride.“My brother is known for his strong support of our military efforts. In Parliament, he often urges more funding for our troops. His own son is a colonel in the army. Colonel Fitzwilliam shares guardianship of my niece with Darcy.”

  Darcy would have preferred that these complete strangers would have no knowledge of his private affairs, but he realized, from years of trying to squelch his aunt, that it was an effort in futility.

  Georgiana, seated on Elizabeth’s left, ventured a comment. “I do so wish that the colonel might call at Pemberley more often. It seems a long time since he was here.”

  “It has been only a few weeks,” Elizabeth remarked. “He was here during the Festive season.”

  “It seems longer.”

  Georgiana’s participation did not go unnoticed by Darcy, who realized that six months earlier, it would never have happened.

  “If Mr. Worth’s evaluation is true, Lord Stafford, you may not arrive at your relative’s bedside in time.That would be a great tragedy,” his sister observed.

  Her words caught Adam Lawrence’s attention in more than one way. He and Cathleen had not discussed how they would explain their supposed trip to Cheshire to comfort a loved one. “It would indeed be a tragedy, Miss Darcy.”

  Lady Catherine asked, “Whom did you intend to visit, Lord Stafford?”

  Adam stammered,“A-a dis-a distant relative for me,Your Ladyship, but it is my cousin Miss Donnel’s uncle.You understand how extended families come together in times of adversity.”

  “And your uncle, Miss Donnel—he has a title?” Lady Catherine demanded.

  “An Irish baron, Lady Catherine.” Cathleen kept her eyes lowered; Adam had warned her of Darcy’s threat, and she played her part.

  Lady Catherine’s disdain showed.“Irish?” She wrinkled her nose.

  “We all must come from somewhere, Aunt,” Darcy said.

  “I suppose,” she said and tsked, taking the time to cut the slice of ham on her plate.“It is kind of His Lordship to escort Miss Donnel to Cheshire, considering that you are not blood cousins.”

  Adam found Lady Catherine’s attitude amusing. If he had not promised Fitzwilliam Darcy to maintain propriety for the rest of the party’s sake, Adam would have enjoyed putting the woman in her place by saying something scandalous. “Miss Donnel and I are close, nonetheless, Lady Catherine. I am just not close to her maternal uncle.”

  “I must observe, Viscount Stafford, that you and your cousin make a striking pair.”

  Adam could not resist. “So you think my cousin an appropriate match, Lady Catherine? I have never taken with the British practice of marrying one’s relatives—be they distant or not.” Adam purposely avoided looking at Darcy, knowing what his host might think of such a remark. He also avoided what he assumed played across Cathleen’s face. He had openly admitted that he held no desire to marry her.

  “Nonsense, Your Lordship.” Lady Catherine swelled with self-righteousness. “A family must keep the blood lines pure. I had once entertained the idea of my nephew and my Anne making a match. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as my choice. However, it was not meant to be.”

  “Mother, please!” Anne whispered loudly.

  Darcy warned, “Aunt, we will not revisit this issue.”

  “Of course, Darcy. I apologize.” The woman looked anything but apologetic.

  Adam had taken some pleasure in subtly needling Darcy’s aunt, but he had no understanding of the animosity lurking behind the woman’s conversation. He knew nothing of how or why Darcy had chosen his wife, but it was obviously a sore point for Lady Catherine. Adam had taken an initial liking to Darcy’s wife, and he regretted that he might have inspired Lady Catherine to embarrass the woman.

  “Well, as for me, I will follow in your nephew’s footsteps, ma’am, and choose a woman I can truly love. It is capital to witness such a perfect couple as we see in Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Very few men would object to such a match.” With these words, Adam hoped that he had laid the groundwork for the Darcys’ forgiveness of him.

  “Mrs. Darcy is a phenomenal woman.” Darcy raised his glass to Elizabeth in acknowledgment of the woman he loved.

  “Thank you, my Husband.” Purposely, Elizabeth had not reacted to Lady Catherine’s insult. She had expected something of the sort from Darcy’s aunt. She would not sink to the woman’s baseness. Elizabeth recalled Darcy’s second proposal: As a child I was taught what was right, but was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately, as an only son, I was spoiled by my parents, who though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Luckily, her husband had changed his ways. Sadly, Lady Catherine would never see beyond the end of her aristocratic nose.

  “Perhaps, Georgiana, you might entertain your brother’s guests after our meal.” Lady Catherine’s suggestion was a thinly veiled edict.

  Georgiana flushed. “I…I could not, Aunt.”

  “Nonsense, child. You most certainly will do your duty. Why spend so many hours practicing if no one ever is to hear you play? I am sure you possess more skill than Mrs. Darcy for she was never one to practice. I told her at Rosings several times that she will never play well unless she practices more.Yet even with her limited experience, Mrs. Darcy managed to entertain both the good colonel and your brother for an evening.”

  Darcy came immediately to his wife’s defense. “No one admitted to the privilege of hearing Mrs. Darcy could think anything wanting.” Darcy provided a solution of his own to calm his sister. “Perhaps, Elizabeth, you might offer us
the pleasure of hearing you sing, with Georgiana’s accompaniment, of course.”

  Elizabeth smiled archly. “I would enjoy that, Fitzwilliam. Oh, please say you will indulge me, Georgiana!”

  Georgiana knew this woman—knew that Elizabeth, like her brother, would walk through fire to protect her. “That would be most pleasant, Elizabeth.You have a beautiful voice.”

  “Possibly my cousin will share a song also; she is quite talented,” Adam Lawrence observed, again ignoring Darcy’s possible censure.

  Darcy asked smoothly,“Might you honor us with a song or two, Miss Donnel?”

  Her initial expression was one of mild alarm, but the lady answered, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for asking. If it is your wish, I cannot refuse.You have opened your home to my cousin and me. It is the least I could do in return.”

  Worth took a sip of his wine. “Sing for your supper, Miss Donnel?” he inquired jovially. As a solicitor,Worth considered himself a keen observer of humanity, for he met all kinds. As such, something told him the viscount and this lady held no blood relationship. He thought her “talents” lay elsewhere.

  “It is not necessary to repay our hospitality,” Elizabeth interrupted, “but I would appreciate not being the only one to perform this evening. Please do join me.”

  As usual, Lady Catherine wanted the last word. “Music! It is of all subjects my delight. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment in music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learned I should have been a great proficient; and so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply.”

  Darcy watched as his cousin sank lower in her seat, trying to symbolically disappear. Obviously, Anne’s health had improved enough for her to sneak off to meet her lieutenant. Darcy had not yet had an opportunity to speak privately with Anne. When he had stopped by her room that day, she claimed a headache. He would need to give her a day or two before he could approach his cousin on her indiscretion. Darcy would not chastise her, though. He had mistakenly done so with Georgiana; now she struggled to gain her social confidence. Despite the fact that Anne held eight years on Georgiana, his cousin lived under Lady Catherine’s thumb. As such, Anne de Bourgh possessed little social confidence. Actually, he found her “rebellion,” so uncharacteristic, encouraging. Possibly, Anne’s indiscretion would be a turning point in her life. He simply wanted to guarantee that the man did not perform a farce in his profession of love. If Lieutenant Harwood’s affections proved legitimate, Darcy would not stop the man from pursuing Anne. His cousin deserved to know true affection.